NETL - Undergraduate Research Assistant

University of Texas at Austin • Austin, TX

114d • $18

About The Position

As a top-10 engineering school, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. The Nuclear and Radiation Engineering (NRE) area within the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering includes six faculty, along with researchers and students, in the study and application of nuclear and radiation engineering, including imaging, robotics, high-performance computing, reactor design and materials development. The groups provide a supportive community striving to solve the most pressing challenges of the 21st century through world class research, unsurpassed student education, and dedicated service to the community. The Digital Molten Salt Reactor Initiative (D’MSRI) is a program funded by the state of Texas to develop a long-term research program at UT that centers on the use of digital twins to enable the licensing of innovations for advanced reactors in Texas. The undergraduate research assistant (URA) will support ongoing research in data acquisition for the TRIGA reactor. The URA will develop, build, and test, and install equipment for the Digital Twin project. The URA will be responsible for equipment that will be used to install neutron detectors. The URA will work closely with faculty, senior researchers, and other students from the University of Texas (UT), providing an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge research and develop valuable skills for both academic and professional advancement.

Requirements

• Undergraduate student with 3+ semester completion.
• Experience using SolidWorks.
• Comfortable working with minor oversight.
• B+ or higher GPA.
• Able to regularly travel to and work at the NETL facility located at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin.
• Comfortable working with heavy machinery and power tools.
• Comfortable lifting heavy equipment, possibly up to 40 lbs at times.
• Comfortable working in a controlled facility as a radiation worker.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with metal such as steel and aluminum.
• Experience selecting materials and designing metallic components.
• Design for manufacturing experience.

Responsibilities

• Designing mechanical components to support installation of miniature fission detectors.
• Selecting and working with vendors and contractors.
• Building, testing, and installing mechanical and electrical hardware.
• Machining simple components as needed.
• Collaborating with faculty, senior researchers, and other students to ensure the successful completion of the project.

Benefits

• Hourly Rate $18 + based on experience.
• Students in this position may choose to enroll in the UTSaver voluntary retirement programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees